Counter



May 23, 1939. H uss 2,159,314

COUNTER Filed April 10, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 23, 1939. uss2,159,314

COUNTER Filed April 10, 193 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 23, 1939UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COUNTER Harvey N. Bliss, West Hartford,Conn., assignor to Veeder-Root Incorporated, a corporation ofConnecticut Application April 10, 1936, Serial No. 73,748

6 Claims.. (Cl. 235-132) My invention relates to counters. resettingmechanism in partly reset position, It has among its objects to providean imin which the switch operating mechanism has proved counter of thehigh speed predetermining just been cocked; type having improved controlmechanism asso- Fig. 7 .is a similar view showing an optional ciatedtherewith. A further object of my invenvertical mounting of the counterin which the 5 tion is to provide such a counter having improved switchis mounted on the bottom of the casing;

control mechanism for operating an electric Fig. 8 is an end elevationshowing a modified switch or other device automatically upon the controlmechanism; completion of a predetermined number of count- Fig. 9 is asection taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 2; 10 ing operations, for maintaining.the same oper- Fig. 10 is a section taken on line lll0 of 10 ated duringsubsequent counting operations, and Fig. 2, and for reversely operatingthe same in response to Fig. 11 is a section taken on line Il-il of aresetting operation of the counter resetting Fig. 2. mechanism. A stillfurther object of my inven- In this illustrative construction, I haveshown 15 tionis to provide such an improved control a high speed counterof the predetermining type 15 mechanism carried within the usual counterenenclosed in a suitable casing l and comprising closing casing andcooperating with the usual a plurality of operatively connected.counting counter mechanism provided therein having sufmechanisms, eachhaving an adJustable predeficient power for operating the device to becontermlning number wheel 2 and an adJacent 0 trolled while imposing aminimum of restraint counting number wheel 3, while also having enon thecounting mechanisms during counting closed within said casing improvedcontrol mechand resetting and facilitating presetting of the anismhereinafter described. predetermining members. Still another object ofThe interconnected counting mechanisms A, B, my invention is to providesuch an improved C, D and E are of a usual construction, for exam- 5mechanism adapted to operate a controlling deple being shown in theSpaunburg Patent No. as vice, as an electric switch, mounted on eitherof 2,040,026, issued May 5, 1936, and a detailed detwo different wallsof the counter casin as may scription thereof is not necessary. It will,howbe desired to permit both vertical and horizontal ever, be understoodthat the first or lowest order mounting of the counter. These and otherobunit A is driven in any suitable manner and that .i a adva ag s of yconstruction w the several counting mechanisms are connected so however,hereinafter more fully appear. through usual transfer mechanismincluding mu- In the accompanying drawings I have shown tilated transferpinions 4, one of which is shown for purposes of illustration oneembodiment in'Fig. l, rotatably mounted on the transfer pinwhich myinvention may assume in practice. ion shaft 5 and meshing with thetwo-tooth gear In these drawings, 6 and the twenty-tooth gear I ofadjacent count- 36 Figure 1 is a plan view of a high speed counter ingmechanism to provide a tens-transfer beof the predetermining typeequipped with my imtween each counting mechanism and the adiaprovement,the counting number wheels being cent mechanism of next higher orde theusual shown in the zero position and parts being broken notched lockingdisc 1a. being provided aflacent 40 away to facilitate illustration;each two-tooth gear I. It will, awe, be under- 40 Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of the counter of Fig. stood that the predetermining members 2are l with parts of the casing broken away; adjustable about their axisrelative to their re- Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the counter shownspective counting mechanisms to set up any prein Fig. 2 looking from theleft hand end, with determined number representing the desired 4 parts fh ing roken away, howing the number of counting operations. To this endthe tripped position of the switch operating mechapredetermining wheelshave a series of radially nism following completion of the predeterminedarranged apertures corresponding to the numeral count and prior'toresetting; positions thereon, into which a pin lb (Fig. 1) Fig. 4 is aright hand end view of the counter carried on the adjacent face oflocking disc la shown in Fig. 2 with parts in section, showing theenters in different angular positions of the pretrain of driving gears;determining wheel; spiral springs Ic located be- Fig. 5 is a sectionalplan view taken on line tween the counting wheels and predetermining 55of Fig. 3 but showing the mechanism in wheels and within the latter,serving to maintain switch open position; the predetermining wheelsreleasably in adjusted 55 Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing theposition on the pinslb. Here it will be noted that the counting wheels 3are receivable within the peripheral flanges of the predeterminingwheels upon axial movement of the latter to disengage the pin lb duringadjustment of the predetermining wheels to set up the predeterminedcount thereon. As shown, these predetermining members are also providedwith the usual peripheral notches 8 which are aligned in the zeroposition of said members. These notches are adapted to be engaged byrollers 9, carried on a usual swinging frame l0, pivoted on a shaft IIwhich is supported in the end walls of the casing.

In my improved construction, this frame is constantly biased by animproved spring I2 into a position in which the rollers engage theperipheries of the predetermining number wheels 2 ready to drop intonotches 8 whenever the latter are in alignment; the spring I2, as aresult of my improved control mechanism, being relatively light andconnected to frame l0 adjacent its pivot so asto urge the rollersagainst the predetermining wheels with only sufficient force to insurethat they will enter the notches when the latter are brought intoalignment. It will, also, be understood that after the predeterminedcount has been reached and rollers 9 have entered notches 8 to operatethe frame I0, the counting mechanism may be reset in a usual manner byrotating the wing nut I4 and slotted resetting shaft l5 to pick up theusual resetting pawls l5a carried by the counting mechanisms; thecounting wheels being returned to zero and the predetermined numberbeing again set up on the predetermining wheels, following a completerotation of the shaft in the usual-manner as a result of the usualratchet I50 and pawls l5d provided in each counting mechanism betweengear I and number wheel 3 and shown in Fig. 9.

Herein it will also be noted that the lowest order counting mechanism A,as herein shown, is driven in a continuous manner, as distinguished froma step-by-step actuation, through reducing gearing. To this end, acounter driving shaft I6 is journaled in the end walls of casing I,parallel with the resetting shaft l5, and. has a driving pinion I1 fixedthereto, as shown in Fig. 1, by an integral hub I la abutting the innerwall of casing l and pinned to the shaft. A collar I'Ib is pinned toshaft l6 adjacent the opposite inner wall of casing l and with the hub Ila serves to locate shaft l6 axially in said casing. Said driving pinionmeshes with a loose gear l8 journaled on the shaft l5 having a pinion l9rotatable therewith, which, in turn, meshes with a loose gear 20journaled on shaft l5. This gear 20 has a pinion 2| rotatable therewithwhich meshes with the driving gear 22 of unit A. Note also that in thisconstruction the counting number wheel 3 of the lowest order countingmechanism A is driven by gear 22 through a special driving clutch shownin Fig. 11 consisting of spring pressed driving pawls 22a carried by thedriving gear 22 and the forty tooth ratchet 22b fixed to the countingmember wheel3 of that mechanism. Here it will be noted that this finetooth ratchet insures that the drive wheel 22 of counting mechanism Awill begin to drive counting Figs. 1 and 3, the shaft ll of thepredetermining mechanism has a bell crank 24, constituting a latchmember, journaled thereon. adjacent the inner left hand wall of thecasing (Fig. 1). This bell crank is journaled on shaft il between theadjacent arm 25 of frame Ill and a spacing collar 26, which occupies thespace between the latch member and the casing wall. This collar and a.similar collar 23 at the opposite end of frame I0, fix the frame andbell crank 24 against axial displacement on shaft H. The bell crank 24is adapted to be rotated by the frame I0 when the latter is operated atthe end of the predetermined count, but is permitted a limited amount ofangular movement relative to the frame for purposes hereinafter broughtout. To this end, the hub of frame [0 (Figure 3) is provided with alaterally extending pin 21, which enters into a slot 28 in the bellcrank 24; a spring 29 connected between the free ends of arm 25 and onearm 30 of the bell crank serving to urge the latter constantly in acounter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, into a position inwhich the pin 21 engages the left hand side wall of the slot 28. Alsothe bell crank 24 has a lower depending arm 30a constituting a latch fora normally stressed actuating mechanism, which is adapted to control themachine whose operations are being counted, a signal, or any otherdesired apparatus. This actuating mechanism includes an actuating shaft3| journaled in the end walls of the casing I (Fig. 5) having collars 32and 33 pinned thereto at its opposite ends and abutting the inner rightand left hand walls of the casing and an intermediate collar 34 likewisepinned thereto. The collar 33 has an actuating bell crank 35 fixedthereto for rotation with the shaft 3|, including a lower generallyhorizontal arm 36, which cooperates with the latch arm 30a and anupstanding generally vertical arm 31, which cooperates with theresetting mechanism as hereinafter described. As shown most clearly inFigures 1 and 5, this tripping bell crank is located in a parallel planeclosely adjacent the latch member 24 and has its lower arm 36 laterallyoffset at its extreme end into the plane occupied by latch member 24 inposition to cooperate with the latch 30a thereof. A' relatively powerfultorsion spring 38 is provided on shaft 3| having one end bearing againstarm 31 of bell crank 35 and the other abutting the casing to bias theshaft for rotation in a clockwise direction in which the arm 31 thereofis biased for engagement with a cam 33 fixed on the resetting shaft l5.It will be understood that in the normal position of the parts followingresetting the resetting shaft l5 and cam 39 occupy the position shown inFigure 3, while the actuating bell crank 35 and bell crank 24 occupy theposition shown in Figure 6, in which position the depending latch arm30a of bell crank 30 is located above arm 36 and holds the actuatingbell crank 35 and shaft 3| against the bias of spring 38. Here it willalso be evi dent that the upstanding arm 31 of the actuating bell crankis free to move clockwise upon release of the same by the latch from itsFigure 6 position to its Figure 3 position. The intermediate collar 34has fixed thereto a generally horizontal cam member 40 which, as is mostclearly shown in Figures 6 and '7, extends laterally on both sides ofthe shaft 3|. This cam member 40 is adapted to control the cooperatingcontacts 4| of an enclosed electric switch which is attached to theexterior wall of the casing by suitable screws, not hown.

As shown in Figure 6, the switch is mounted on the rear wall of casingI, a mounting plate 43 being suitably secured to the bottom wall of thecasing for mounting the counter horizontally. In this position of theswitch, an insulating button 44 is mounted in the switch casing andprojects through an aperture in the rear wall of casing I into aposition to be engaged and laterally operated by the end cam face 45 ofcam member 40. The position of the parts shown in Figure 6 is that priorto the operation of the switch, while Figure 3 shows them in theoperated position thereof, in which the button 44 has been movedlaterally to the left to close the contacts 4|. Here, of course, it willbe understood that instead of the normally open switch herein shown, anormally closed switch could be provided if desired.

In Figure '7, the switch is shown in position on the bottom wall ofcasing l with the mounting plate 43 on the back wall of said casing formounting the counter vertically. In this position of the switch, thebutton 44 projects upwardly through the bottom wall of the casing, asshown in Figure 7, in position to be engaged and depressed by theoverhanging portion 46 of cam member 40 when the latter is moved withthe actuating shaft 3| in a clockwise direction upon release of theactuating bell crank by latch 30a.

Means are also provided to determine the zero position of the resettingmechanism. To this end, the cam 39 has a flat portion 41 whichcooperates with the flat face 48 of a spring pressed arm 49 journaled onthe transfer pinion shaft 5. Here it will be understood that as cam 39is rotated to reset the counter, the cooperating fiat faces 41 and 48are brought into alignment when the counting wheels are in the zeroposition and tend to stop the resetting shaft and consequently thecounting wheels in this zero position.

In Figure 8, I have shown a modified construction in which the actuatingshaft 3i is extended through the casing wall and has'an arm 50 locatedexternally of the casing l which may actuate the desired signal or othermechanism. It will be understood that in this modified construction, thecam member 48 is not used and may be omitted.

In the operation of the construction illustrated, it will be understoodthat with the counting number wheels 3 in the reset or zero position,the predetermining wheels 2 on the several counting mechanisms can bemoved axially to disengage them from pins lb and thereupon be rotated toset up the desired predetermined number. Also, as the counting mechanismA is driven by the driving gear train and transfers to the countingmechanisms B, C, D and E, the number wheels 3 will add until thepredetermined number of counting operations have been performed, whenthe predetermined number will appear thereon, while the predeterminingnumber wheels will subtract to zero. During this counting operation,-theactuating bell crank 35 will be held in the position shown in Figure 6by the depending latch arm 30a of bell crank 24, while the rollers 9will ride over the external peripheries of the predetermining wheels.When, however, the predetermined number has been counted, the notches 8in the predetermining wheels 2 will be aligned beneath the rollers 9,and as the rollers drop into the notches under the action of spring l2,the frame ill will be rotated clockwise. Due to the engagement of pin 21with the margin of slot 28 in bed crank 24, the latter will be rotatedwith the frame from the position shown in Figure 6 to the position shownin Figure 3, thus tripping the actuating bell crank 35. The bell crank35 under the action of its spring 38 rotates the shaft 3| and the cammember in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3 and actuates thebutton 44 of the switch either by the cam face on the left hand endthereof, or by the overhanging portion 48 on the right hand end, aspreviously described, to close the contacts 4i.

The control mechanism will remain in this tripped position until againcocked, and consequently the switch will remain operated. When, however,the resetting shaft I5 is rotated by the wing nut H to reset thecounting mechanisms, the cam 39 acting on the upstanding arm 31 ofactuating bell crank 35 will rotate the latter counter-clockwise and thedepending latch arm 30a of bell crank 39 will again move into theposition shown in Fig. 6 above arm 38, in which position of the latchthe arm 36 is held releasably against the action of spring 38. As theresetting mechanism approaches the zero position of the counting wheels,the flat face 41 thereon comes into engagement with the cooperating flatface 48 of the spring pressed arm 49, which indicates to the operatorthat he has reached the zero position of the parts. It will be notedfrom the above described operation, that the bell crank 24 is positivelytripped by the engagement of the pin 21 on frame l0 with the extremityof slot 28 in the latch member 24. When, however, resetting takes place,and the frame I0 is rotated counter-clockwise (Fig. 3) as rollers 9 arecammed out of the notches 8 in the predetermining wheels, the bell crank24, while it is biased for counterclockwise rotation by spring 29, isheld by arm 36 until cam 39 has moved arm 38 out of the path of latcharm 30a. The lost motion permitted between frame 10 and latch member 24by the pin and slot connection above described permits the bell crank 24to remain in the position shown in Fig. 3 during the initial resettingoperation above described, while also permitting the rollers 9 to becammed out of the slots 8 at any time following tripping, as would bethe case if the counter continued to count upon reaching thepredetermined number.

The operation of the modification shown in Fig. 8 is believed to beobvious from the above, the actuating arm being rotated in a clockwisedirection upon tripping of the actuating bell crank 35 by the latch arm30a of bell crank 24, as previously explained.

As a result of my improvements, I have provided a counter of thepredetermining type, capable of very high speed operation at, forexample, 2500 to 3000 R. P. M.speeds never before obtainable in apredetermined counter which heretofore have operated at speeds of 100 to150 R. P. M. This is due in part to the continuous actuation of thelowest order counting mechanisms through a train of driving gears whichimposes less strain on the transfer mechanism than intermittentoperation, and in part to the improved controlling mechanism which, byreason of the latch mechanism employed, permits a very much lighterpressure of the rollers 9 aga nst the peripheries of the predeterminingwheels than has hitherto been possible. The importance of this will beevident when it is realized that in driving the counting mechanisms A,B, C, D, and E, the pressure of the rollers on the peripheries of thewheels retards the rotation thereof, and imposes a considerable load onthe transfer mechanism between counting mechanisms, especially when atransfer occurs to a higher order wheel when several or all of thecounting mechanisms may be advanced simultaneously. With the presentconstruction, the power for actuating the switch, for example, isobtained from the relatively strong spring 38, the force of which doesnot act upon the frame ill as in former constructions, but instead actsagainst the depending latch arm 30a of member 24 through which thereaction of spring 38 is transmitted to shaft H which acts as anabutment. Accordingingly, the only force acting to urge the rollersagainst the peripheries of wheels 2 is that exerted by the relativelylight spring l2 acting through a very short leverage, which has onlysufiicient pull to rotate the frame l0 and overcome the friction of thelatch face. This improved construction, by which a light engagement ofthe rollers on the peripheries of the predetermining wheels is madepossible, also has the advantage that it permits the predeterminingwheels to be adjusted with less difficulty and avoids the necessity formanually operated releasing mechanism hitherto used to swing the rollers9 away from engagement with the peripheries of the predetermining wheelsduring axial movement of the latter to disengage the clutch pins lb andpermit subsequent rotation to preset the predetermining wheels. It will,also, be evident that my improved control mechanism is adapted to belocated wholly within the casing housing the counting mechanisms withwhich it cooperates without any increase in the dimensions of thecasing, and that it is so arranged as to permit great freedom in themounting of the counter and the location of the control switch.

While I have in this application specifically described two embodimentswhich my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthe forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that myinvention may be modified and embodied in other forms without departingfrom its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A predetermining counter including a plurality of operativelyconnected counting mechanisms, predetermining mechanism operative aftera predetermined count including predetermining means on said countingmechanisms and a pivoted frame having cooperating controlling membersengaging said predetermining means, control means normally biased tocontrolling position, a latch controlling said control means normallybiased into a position to engage and con trol said controlling means,means on said frame normally holding said latch against its bias andtripping the same upon operation of said predetermining mechanism,resetting means including a rotatable resetting shaft for returning saidcounting mechanisms and said predetermining mechanism to initialposition following completion of the predetermined count, and meansoperable with said resetting means for moving said controlling meansagainst its bias into position to be reengaged by said latch.

2. A predetermining counter including a plurality of operativelyconnected counting mechanisms, predetermining mechanism operative aftera predetermined count including predetermining means on said countingmechanisms and a pivoted frame having cooperating controlling meansengaging said predetermining means, control means normally biased tocontrolling position, a latch controlling said control means andnormally biased into a position to engage and control said controlmeans, cooperating means on said frame and latch positively moving saidlatch against its bias to release said control means upon operation ofsaid predetermining mechanism, resetting means including a rotatableresetting shaft for returning said counting mechanisms and saidpredetermining mechanism to initial position following completion of thepredetermined count, and means operative in response to the rotation ofsaid resetting shaft for moving said control means reversely intoposition to be engaged by said latch, said cooperating means havingprovision for lost motion between said frame and latch permittingreverse movement of said predetermining mechanism While permitting saidlatch to remain in tripped position.

3. A predetermining counter including a plurality of operativelyconnected counting mechanisms, each including a counting wheel and apredetermining wheel having a peripheral notch therein, cooperatingpredetermining mechanism including a movable frame having meansengageable with the notches whenever the latter are in alignmenttherewith, means constantly biasing said frame for engagement with saidpredetermining wheels, resetting means including a rotatable resettingshaft for returning said counting mechanisms and said cooperatingpredetermining mechanism to their initial position following completionof the predetermined count, control means biased into a controllingposition, a latch constantly biased into a position to latch saidcontrol means against operation, and latch operating means movable withsaid frame for tripping said latch to release said control means uponentry of said notch engaging means into said notches, cam means on saidresetting shaft for moving said control means reversely during resettinginto position to be engaged again by said latch, said latch operatingmeans having an operating connection with said latch permitting reverseoperation of said frame independently of a corresponding reversemovement of said latch:

4. A predetermining counter including an enclosing casing, a pluralityof operatively connected counting mechanisms, predetermining mechanismoperative after a predetermined count including predetermining means onsaid counting mechanisms and a cooperating pivoted frame having meanscooperating with the predetermining means on said mechanisms, anelectric switch having cooperating contacts and supportable in aplurality of positions on said casing, switch control means in saidcasing normally biased into position to control said contacts havingmeans for controlling the latter in said plurality of positions, a latchmember normally holding said control means against operation, and meanson said frame for tripping said latch upon operation of saidpredetermining mechanism.

5. A predetermining counter including a plurality of operativelyconnected predetermining wheels each having a notch in its periphery, aswinging frame provided with rollers engaging the peripheries of saidwheels and adapted to be received by said notches when the-latter are inalignment, said notches being arranged to cam the rollers out of thenotches during the operation of resetting said wheels, a relativelylight spring urging said rollers towards said wheels, control meansnormally biased to controlling position, a pivoted latch normally biasedinto a position to engage said control means and hold it out ofcontrolling position, means for positively moving said controlling meansagainst its bias into position to be reengaged by said latch, andabutment means between said frame and latch normally holding said latchagainst its bias and actuating the same to release said control meansupon engagement of said rollers in said notches, said abutment meanshaving provision for lost motion between said frame and latch andpermitting said wheels to cam the rollers out of the notches andpermitting said controlling means to be pivotally moved against itsbias.

6. A predetermining counter including a pinrality of operativelyconnected predetermining wheels each having a notch in its periphery, aswinging frame having rollers engaging the peripheries of said wheelsand adapted to be received by said notches when the latter are inalignment, said notches being arranged to cam the rollers out of saidnotches during resetting operation, a relatively light spring urgingsaid rollers toward said wheels, a pivoted control member having latchedand unlatched positions and normally biased into unlatched position, apivoted latch pivoted coincidentally with said frame and normally biasedinto latching position with respect to said pivoted control member, apin and slot connection between said pivoted control member and latchand permitting limited pivotal movement therebetween, and means forpositively moving said control member against its bias and into latchedposition.

HARVEY N. BLISS.

